Conveyer meal order device



Oct. 17, 1950 W J. BRYAN ETAL CONVEYER MEAL ORDER DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1947 iiikiw llllll v Inventors William J. Bryan J06 E. Vrla 406a".

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Oct. 17, 1950 w. J. BRYAN ETAL 2,526,536

CONVEYER MEAL ORDER DEVICE Filed larch 20, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet '2 Fig.2.

Inventor:

William J. Bryan Joe E. Vrla Oct. 17, 1950 w. J. BRYAN ETAL CONVEYER MEAL ORDER DEVICE Filed Ilar'ch 20, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors Wil liam'd. Bryan Joe E. Vr/a By W Patented Oct. 17, 1950 2,526,536 v GfiNVl-EYER-MEAL ones-newton: I

- WilIiam JlBryanIand J OeEQ Vrla, Dallas, Txb Application March 20, 1947-, Serial'No. 735,900

KtGla-ims. (Cl.409 7) This invention rela-tes-to-"-'novel and improved devieesof the endlessconveyor type for receiving -and conveying meals; drinks and thelike orders in a closed path=- oftravel.

A further-object" of this invention is toprovideresilient means for clipping said indicia bearing cards to-said endless conveyor means.

A still-further-objectof this invention is to provide an actuating-means-for said journalling means:

A'notherbbject of this invention is to' provide amechanically; simple device ofthe character described which is' convenient in useand efflcient in operation;

Ancillary-obj ects' and featu res of novelty shall become-apparent to thoseskilled in the art, as well as those specifically mentioned herein above, in following the 'descriptiomor the illustrated preferrediembodimenvofthe present invention, depicted in ithe -accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 jis-pa broken side-elevational View of thepreferred: embodiment ofthe present invention; 1

Figure- 2" isra-plan view of the invention; disclosediin Figured Figure 3 is*ia-' transversesectional-view of the invention" disclosed in Figure 1 taken substantially on the *linef3'3- thereof=and in the direction ofthearrowsy Figures is another. transverse sectionalview of 'tlieinvention -,'disclosed in Figure 1 and taken substantially on the line 4-4 thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a transversesectional view of the inventionflisclosed inFigure 1 and taken substantially on the line 5-5 thereof and'in the direction of the arrows, the handle or crank actuating "means shown in elevation for convenience;

Figure-dis a broken :plan view of the invention disclosedin Figure v1 with parts broken away to illustratencletails of. construction;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the preferred form of resilient clipping means adapted to be 'used in conjunction with the present invention, and

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view, with parts shown in elevation of the clipping means disclosed in Figure '7.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated preferred embodiment of the present invention, like reference characters are used throughout to indicate similar elements.

It is within the purview of this invention to provide a device adapted tobe utilizedin 'restaurants,hotels, homes, night clubs and the like.-

Usually, the kitchen -is disconnectedfrom the dining rooms inthese above mentioned-establishments and usually, aplurality of waltersor -w'aitressesdischarge theirduties in the:dining-rooms.-

' It is customary to have an aperture in the'walt act as a base.-

separting the dining rooms fromthe kitchen and it is further customary forwaitersand/or waitresses to submit indiciabearing cards to the cook in ordering meals drinks and the like; Ac-' cordingly, the preferredembodiment: of the present invention may beplaced in this:usual aperture and the waiters may place thiscard-or cards on'a selected one of theresilie'nt clip means. The cook (or waiter) may rotate the actuatingm'eans for pulling the indicia bearing cards from the dining room to the kitchen for subsequentfilling of the same. It is noted that by the use of the present invention, there is no danger of any one order being taken out of turn.

A'suitable, preferably metallic housing I0 is provided of substantially rectangular configurati'on. a

A base member l2 may be provided thereon to It will be noted that any suitable securing means may be used in connection with holdin the base to the said housing 10, asillustrated in Figure 4, showing conventional screws and bolts I4.

A pair of frame members l6 and 18 respectively are provided at alternate ends of the said hous ing' l0 and are received in fixed relation therewith by suitable conventional securing cmeans such 'as the-'- bolts IL The said frame? members It and l8 frespectively are provided -withcross members 20. Aligned apertures are provided through the intermediatecro'ss members 2 0' and throug-h'theupper" cross members- 22;- A- first shaft=24- is rotatably journaled' in the apertures in said cross members and a suitable limiting collar 26 is provided atone end'thereof; A d-is" continuous or-"mu-tilated gear 28- is provide d'at the opposite-end ofsaid shaft 24 said gearhav ing a suitable collar thereon adapted to abut the upper cross members 22 thereby providing a thrust bearing. A second shaft 30 is rotatably journaled in the apertures in the said cross members of frame l8 and a gear 32 is provided at one end thereof, identical to the described gear 28. A beveled gear 34 having a collar 36 integral therewith is provided on the opposite end thereof of the said shaft 30. The collar 36 is adapted to engage the lower or intermediate cross members 26 thereby acting as a thrust bearing.

fihain means 31 extends around the said gears 28 and 32 respectively and the said chain means 31 is of the endless variety. In the construction of said chain means there is a plurality of lug members 38 adapted to engage the addendum and dedendum of each gear tooth. This construction is obviously similar to the chainsprocket construction commonly used in many arts. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 6, that the gears 28 and 32 are splined and pinned to the respective shaft associated therewith and that a gear tooth is missing therefrom, rendering said gears discontinuous.

Means for resiliently retaining indicia bearing cards are provided at predetermined spaced intervals on the said chain means. The said resilient retaining means is composed of a plurality of conventional elements coacting to provide an extremely satisfactory and serviceable device. A sleeve 40 has a conventional resilient clip 42 secured to one end thereof by means of a suitable bolt 44 and the usual complement-a1 nut 46. It is apparent from an inspection of Figures 7 and 8 that the said bolt 44 extends through the bore of the sleeve 40 holding the clip 42 at one end thereof and the head 41 of the said bolt engages a selected link 48 of the said chain means 31. It will be further noted that a washer '50 may interposed between the link 48 and head 41 if so desired, or preferably, the head 41 of said bolt 44 may be provided with an extension therearound to act as a washer. A purpose of having the gears 28 and 32 discontinuous is now deemed quite apparent and particularly upon inspection of Figure 6, it will be seen that the head 47 extends through one of the spaces normally occupied by gear teeth. By use of discontinuous gears no undue amount of extortion or interference takes place in actuation of the chain means.v

'In order to set the invention in motion, a crank 54 is rotatably received in the said frame l8 and a gear, preferably a bevel gear 56 is adjustably secured to said crank. This gear 56 cooperates with the above mentioned gear 34. Upon rotation of the said crank 54 it will be obvious that the gear 56 rotates the gear 34 which in turn rotates the shaft 30 and consequently the chain means 31.

In the central portion of the housing IE3, that is between the frames [6 and I8, there is a second housing 60 adapted to be used as a spacer. This housing 69 may be secured within the said housing by conventional friction securing means suchas sheet metal screws 62. A channel member 64 is provided at the top portion of the said inner housing 60 and is secured thereto by studs 66. Received on the said channel 64 is a second, larger channel 68 adapted to substantially cover the chain means 31 and other mechanical features. It will be noted that the frame I 8 is spaced from a selected wall of the housing 10 and a bearing 69 is secured therebetween. Further, a perch 10 is provided on a selected wall of the said frame I 8 to assist in journalling the said 4 crank 54. To compensate for wear, the said gears 56 and 34 are preferably adjustably secured to their respective journalling members by some suitable conventional means such as set screws 12.

There has been described a device capable of performing all of the specifically mentioned objects as well as ancillary objects of this invention. However, it is apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes including omissions, additions, variations as to size, shape and rearrangement of elements, may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Acordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described this invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patentis:

1. A display device comprising a stand, a pair of gears carried by said stand each of said gears having teeth with a blank space between teeth of both gears, an endless conveyor member mounted on said gears, means disposed at spaced intervals on said conveyor member for supporting cards, and said means being so spaced that upon operation of said gears and said member the card supporting means is disposed in the blank spaces.

2. A display device comprising a stand, a pair of mutilated gears mounted for rotation on said stand, an endless chain enmeshed with both of said gears and means carried by said stand for operating one of said gears thereby actuating said chain, means carried by said chain at spaced intervals for supporting cards, said means being spaced so that said card supporting means is substantially in alignment with the peripheralportions of the gears having no teeth while said chain is being actuated.

3. A display device comprising a stand, a pair of mutilated gears mounted for rotation on said stand, an endless chain enmeshed with both of said gears and means carried by said stand for operating one of said gears thereby actuating said chain, means carried by said chainat spaced intervals for supporting cards, said means being spaced so that said card supporting means 'is substantially in alignment with the peripheral portions of the gears having no teeth while said chain is being actuated, a cover for said chain carried by said stand, and said card supporting means projecting between said cover and said stand.

WILLIAM J. BRYAN.

JOE E. VRLA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: v.

UNITED STATES PATENTS H Date 

